Precipice
noun /ˈpres.ɪ.pɪs/ — A very steep cliff or dangerous edge
Definition
A very steep, near-vertical cliff face — or figuratively, the edge of a terrible danger or irreversible decision. The moment before the fall.
Beyond the definition
The word for standing somewhere you cannot easily step back from. A precipice is not just a feature of landscape — it is a condition of mind.
Origin & history
From Latin 'praecipitium' (a steep place) — from 'praeceps' (headlong, steep) — 'prae' (before) + 'caput' (head). The place where you could go headlong.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
They stood at the precipice of the gorge, the valley floor impossibly far below.
The country stood at a political precipice — one more incident and everything would change.
A precipice makes ordinary life look entirely different. You understand what you value when you stand at the edge.
Synonyms
cliff, brink, verge, abyss, edge
Antonyms
valley, plain, safety
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Walking the Steep Mountain Ridge
An adult walks alone along a high, narrow mountain ridge path, with a deep, forested valley bathed in shadow far below them.
A precipice is a very steep cliff face or, figuratively, a moment of irreversible decision. Walking along the high, narrow mountain ridge visualizes the literal precipice, capturing the steadiness required to stand at the edge of a significant drop and the intensity of the situation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration